In 2011, I gave up a career in information technology to start my own company. I have my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business from the University of Florida and worked in information technology for over 15 years. When my son was born with Down Syndrome, I became involved in disability advocacy. In 2007 I was appointed by Governor Crist to serve on the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council. In 2009, I was appointed by the Florida Education Commissioner to the Florida State Advisory Committee for the Education of Exceptional Students. This work, and my son, inspired the creation of Opportunity Works, Inc. based in St. Petersburg, FL. Opportunity Works is a full-service staffing and recruiting company, focusing our recruiting efforts on people with disabilities. I get to educate employers everyday about the value of including disabilities in the workplace. We believe companies are missing opportunities to hire qualified and dedicated employees and exist to help fill that gap.

Keeping My Eye On The Ball

Starting a business can be a lonely proposition if you’re the sole one responsible for keeping the whole thing going. Operating in a fairly unique niche compounds the sense of isolation. Recently I found out how energizing it can be to reach out to a kindred entrepreneur to talk shop and ponder possibilities.

In March 2011 I came up with a vision to improve the employment for people with disabilities through a staffing agency model. My son has Down Syndrome which led me to do a significant amount of advocacy work at the state level in Florida. In discussions with a mentor at the time, and business partner today, it was clear that there is a communication gap between employers and social service agencies providing employment services to people with disabilities. I thought through a staffing firm this gap could be bridged. I also thought that there was nothing unique about me or my ideas, so went in search of a company that was doing this. I couldn’t find one, anywhere in the country. There were non-profits that were doing some of this, but it was limited to the people served by that organization, as well as being limited in other ways.

I was thrilled a few months ago when I was contact by Brad Vollmert, founder of Higher disAbilities, LLC in Chicago. Brad started a company very similar to mine in Chicago. Brad introduced me to Melissa Reishus of The Sea Glass Group and Adam Kaplan of Big Tent Jobs. We all have staffing services companies focused on placing people with disabilities, and I’m so happy to no longer be alone. I also learned that I was not the first person with this vision. There is a company called Reemploy in the United Kingdom that was started in 2007 to provide similar services as Opportunity Works provides today. And finally, welcome to the group, Standing Tall in South Africa. The one thing we all have in common is we understand the value of an inclusive workforce to companies and we have all taken our own risks to prove it to the rest of the world.

The exterior of a typical Nordstrom department store at The Florida Mall located in Orlando, Florida. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But, it’s not easy. Just 20 months ago, I would still wander through NordstromNordstromlooking at shoes that I once would have bought without a second thought. Now, I just go to TargetTarget and look at clearance items and usually convince myself I can’t afford anything, so why bother looking. I know it would be easier to go get a job, but Opportunity Works is making good progress, so I just can’t.

I just had an employee ask me about the time of day his automatic payroll deposit would hit his account and I couldn’t answer the question because I’m not paying myself, still. But, when I look at our books, I can see that by the end of this month, May 2013, our sales will have surpassed our sales revenues for all of 2012. I have new business coming in daily and thank goodness it appears I may be able to start paying myself, some regular amount in the next 2 – 3 months. I have paid myself some commissions, so it’s not like I haven’t received anything, but I’m still not covering my bills which becomes more and more troublesome with each month.

My partner, and boss, Jim made my day earlier this week when he told me how impressed he is at my ability to “keep my eye on the ball”. I am nothing if not tenacious with some obsessive qualities. These traits have probably done damage in some places in my life, but I think they’re a must for anyone starting a company, at least anyone who isn’t starting it with a bank account like Bill Gates.

Judy Owen is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Opportunity Works, Inc. a full service staffing company focused on recruiting people with disabilities.

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